The Forms of Degree of Comparison

b. Comparative and Superlative forms Comparative are adjectives that end in -er e.g. bigger, richer, and faster or more e.g. more interesting, more expensive. 34 We use comparative to compare one person or a thing with another person or a thing. 35 For example:  Tiger is bigger than Cat.  Detective Conan is more interesting than Dragon Ball. While superlatives forms are adjectives that end in -est e.g. biggest, richest, fastest or most e.g. the most interesting, the most expensive. 36 Superlatives degree distinguishes one thing or person from a number of others. 37 We use superlative adjectives to compare somebody or something with the whole group that he or she or it belongs to. 38 For example:  Brian is the tallest boy in the class.  Motorcycle is the most expensive of them all. Comparative and superlative degree has many forms based on their syllables, their ending in vocal and consonant letter as the following example below: 1 One-syllable adjective Regular comparison a For one-syllable adjective form their comparative and superlative by adding -er and -est to the positive form. 39 34 Martin Parrot, Grammar for English Language Teachers, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010, Second Edition, p. 79. 35 Michal Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, Third Edition, p. 139. 36 Parrot, loc. cit. 37 Foley Hall, op. cit., p. 224. 38 Swan, loc. cit. 39 Azar, op. cit., p. 253. Table 2.1 Adjectives Comparative Superlative Old Older The oldest Wise Wiser The wisest Cheap Cheaper Cheapest Adapted from Betty Schrampfer Azar; Fundamentals of English Grammar b For adjectives ending in -e form their comparative and superlative by adding -r and -st. 40 Table 2.2 Adjectives Comparative Superlative Brave Braver Bravest Late Later Latest Nice Nicer Nicest Adapted from Betty Schrampfer Azar; Fundamentals of English Grammar c For adjectives ending in one vowel and one consonant, form their comparative and superlative by doubling the last consonant and adding -er and -est. 41 Table 2.3 Adjectives Comparative Superlative Fat Fatter Fattest Big Bigger Biggest Thin Thinner Thinnest Adapted from Betty Schrampfer Azar; Fundamentals of English Grammar 2 Two -syllable adjectives a For most two-syllable adjectives, more and most are used. 42 40 Swan, op. cit., p. 113. 41 Ibid. 42 Azar, op. cit., p. 253. Table 2.4 Adjectives Comparative Superlative Famous More famous The most famous Pleasant More pleasant The most pleasant Adapted from Betty Schrampfer Azar; Fundamentals of English Grammar b For adjectives ending in -y form comparative and superlative by adding -er and -est. The -y is changed to -i. 43 Table 2.5 Adjectives Comparative Superlative Happy Happier The happiest Pretty Prettier The prettiest Adapted from Betty Schrampfer Azar; Fundamentals of English Grammar c For some two-syllables adjectives use either -erest or moremost. 44 Table 2.6 Adjectives Comparative Superlative Clever Cleverer More clever The cleverest The most clever Friendly Friendlier More friendly The friendliest The most friendly Adapted from Betty Schrampfer Azar; Fundamentals of English Grammar 3 Theree or more syllables adjectives a For adjectives with three or more syllables form their comparative and superlative by adding more and most. 45 43 Azar, op. cit., p. 253. 44 Azar, op. cit., p. 253. 45 Azar, op. cit., p. 253. Table 2.7 Adjectives Comparative Superlative Important More important The most important Fascinating More fascinating The most fascinating Adapted from Betty Schrampfer Azar; Fundamentals of English Grammar c. Irregular Comparison Comparison of adjective is not only having regular adjectives but also there are irregular adjectives for comparative and superlative forms. Parrot pointed out irregular adjective in comparative and superlative degree. The table shows some of the most common irregular forms. 46 Table 2.8 Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms Adjectivesadverb Comparative Superlative Good Better Best Well Better Best Bad Worse Worst Badly Worse Worst Far Fartherfurther Farthestfurthest Old Elder Eldest  Farther and farthest generally refer only to distance; further and furthest can also have abstract meaning.  Older and oldest are the standard forms. The use elder and eldest only talks about family relationship, and only normally before a noun. 46 Parrot, op. cit., p. 81.

C. Teaching Degree of Comparison by Using Picture

According to Celce- Murcia and Hilles, “Pictures are versatile and useful resources for teaching aspects of grammar that require a structure-meaning match; they can be used in all phases of a grammar lesson i.e. in presentation, focused practice, communicative practic e, and for feedback and correction”. 47 This statement shows that picture is one of visual aids that can be used for teaching grammar in all stages such as presentation, communicative practice, and also for giving feedback and correction to the students. Meanwhile Ur highlighted in her book, that pictures can be used to teach degree of comparison. 48 Ur states that the use of pictures in teaching degree of comparison in various activities. According to her, “Pictures of two different people stick figures or magazine cutouts will do can create a context for structured or communicative practice of comparison”. 49 For structured practice, the teacher can use the question form as an example below: “Budi is_____________Rozak.” “Rozak is_____________Budi.” In this activity, the teacher gives each pair of students a picture of George and Bill who have different age; and both of students have to compare their age by using comparative degree. Then, another activity of using pictures for teaching comparison is communi cative practice of comparison. “For communicative practice, students sit back to back so they cannot see each others pictures. Thus the two students have to ask each other many questions and share a lot of information. 50 In this activity, the students have a conversation to share a lot of information about their pictures; they can think and talk about their picture by themselves naturally. 47 Celce-Murcia and Hilles, loc. cit. 48 Ur, op. cit., p. 81. 49 Ur, op. cit., p. 81. 50 Ibid., p. 82. In addition, she also adds that, “Pictures also can form the basis for pair and group activities. They are used for eliciting verbal responses or in short to elicit talking”. 51 In this activity, the teacher divides the students into some groups. Then, heshe gives different pictures for each group to make sentences about comparison based on the pictures given. Then, each of groups has to make sentences consist of comparative or superlative degree of adjective. After making four or five sentences, they have to present in the front of class for showing group activity. The activity will enhance active learning because every student will present their work in front of class. For example: Group I Task: Compare the height of the three women on the picture below. Figure 2.4 Picture of three people The sentences are: 1. Alice is the tallest of all. 2. Linda is the shortest of the three. 3. Karen is taller than Linda. 4. Karen is shorter than Alice 51 Ibid., p. 74.